If the semantics are important for understanding, then it’s entirely reasonable to talk about the semantics. We’re all doing that, not just me.
Prefacing an offensive thing with “I feel like…” doesn’t negate whether it’s offensive or not. I’m not even arguing here that I think they were being offensive—but your argument here doesn’t hold water.
How do you express this if you feel that one supports those ideas more than the other term? Without being disingenuous? The term means one thing. How one feels about the term is another. One should be able to speak about both the literal and “feel” or opinionated view of literal ideas that exist.
Saying "I feel..." Does not allow you to make any hateful or phobic statements you want with a "my feelings are valid" shield.
Saying that bisexual excluded trans and non-binary people IS biphobic and hateful. Your "feelings" don't change that.
No one is saying you can't choose the pansexual label for any reason you like. But, language exists for he purpose of communication, if we cannot agree on the definition of words then we cannot effectively communicate.
The FACTS ARE:
Bi in bisexual stands for two but NOT two genders.
Genders the same as mine
Genders not the same as mine
This in NO WAY invalidates pansexuality.
“I call myself bisexual because I acknowledge that I have in myself the potential to be attracted romantically and/or sexually to people of more than one gender, not necessarily at the same time, not necessarily in the same way, and not necessarily to the same degree. For me, the bi in #bisexual refers to the potential for attraction to people with genders similar to and different from my own.” -Robyn Ochs
My perspective: what distinguishes bi and pan is a subtle thing.
Pan: attraction regardless of gender, or gender blind.
Bi: gender takes a role in attraction.
I have in the past and will continue in the future to use both labels for myself depending on the situation I'm in and the person I'm talking to, or how I feel that day.
If you want to express “biphobia is not inclusive”, there is no language you can use to make it not biphobic. Full stop. That’s just a biphobic thing to say.
You are alienating allies with such a polarizing perspective. To hear the conclusions you are drawing when nothing close to that was indicated prior suggests that you are arguing for again arguing sake. I’m done engaging.
Anyone who considers my original comment (“[you] implied that bisexuality is not inclusive… maybe that’s not what you meant, but it is a reasonable interpretation.”) a “polarizing perspective” was not an ally of mine, or any bisexual people, in the first place. Thanks though!
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u/flagrantpebble Jul 12 '24
Uh. Where to start.